As the trees began to thin, Ramson had the strangestimpression that the land itself was attempting to pull him back. Branches whipped at his face and clawed at his clothes; the air itself seemed to thicken, and once or twice, Ramson thought he saw the stir of phantom creatures out of the corners of his eyes, gone as soon as he blinked.
He gripped the reins of his steed tightly, one hand brushing against the hilt of his misericord for comfort. He’d spoken to Kaïs, who had explained everything before giving him an approximate location. Besides, it hadn’t been difficult to follow the trail left by Ana’s battalion.
He’d left instructions for his squad and appointed Torron to be in charge, letting them know that should he not return within a fortnight, they were to return to Bregon without him. He’d penned a letter to King Darias and the Three Courts telling of his treason, again cementing all blame and punishment on his head.
All was taken care of, for he had no idea what he would find up ahead, and for once, no plan—and yet, he felt no fear.
The shores of the Silent Sea opened up before him, pale and glittering like diamonds, the waves lunging at the land with a viciousness he’d never seen before.
In the distance, a battle raged.
Ramson’s fingers tightened around his reins. He dug his heels into the belly of his horse and rode forward.
They were outmatched in every way possible.
Linn spun, daggers flashing as they found their mark in another soldier’s throat.
This was the problem: They had vastly underestimated the number of Inquisitors in Morganya’s ranks. Ana had made thestrategic decision to leave their Affinite battalion to guard the Palace, as well as to keep them out of Morganya’s siphon’s grasp. This decision had been a double-edged sword, for they were now faced with the onslaught of Morganya’s army of Affinites with no Affinites of their own to match them.
Linn ducked as another Inquisitor came charging at her, diamond blades gleaming in his fists. She leapt and thrust—and Linn parried.
Just barely.
The second blow sent one of Linn’s daggers spinning from her hands. She heard athwickas it buried itself in the sand.
The next moment, a diamond blade cut across her cheek.
Linn staggered back, the rhythm of her steps interrupted. She barely had a moment to look up as the diamond Affinite leapt.
As the Inquisitor’s diamond blades plunged toward her, she summoned wind and slid beneath the Inquisitor. Twisted. Pirouetted.
And landed on the girl’s back, her lone dagger kissing her opponent’s neck, her other hand pressing the girl’s face against the sand.
The Inquisitor’s hand twisted.
Linn reacted instinctively, but not fast enough. She felt the blade pierce her side; the pain came a moment later. She rolled off, spitting blood onto the snow-sprinkled sand.
Linn reached for her knives as the Affinite’s blades plunged down.
A second shadow appeared, sword driving down.
Blood splattered on Linn’s face, wet and warm. The Inquisitor’s body slumped onto the sand, and Linn’s savior stepped forward.
“What was it that you said about saving me every time we fought?” Ramson said, wiping his misericord on his pants. His tone was light, yet his face was grave, as though his heart wasn’t in the jest.
He bent down to her. His hand was gentle as he slid it around her waist, and she thought of the first moment they’d met in the dungeons of Alaric Kerlan’s Playpen. How different he’d been then.
“Ramson,” Linn whispered. “I have never thanked you.” She was bleeding profusely from her midsection—she could feel it seeping into her clothes.
“Now, why would you need to thank me?” He kept his misericord out, eyes scanning their surroundings before looking backto her. “I’ve been keeping a tally—I’m a businessman, after all—and I believe I still owe you one.” His hand steadied her as they retreated. “Where is she?”
There was no doubt whom he meant. A terrible sadness shadowed Linn’s heart. “She followed Morganya, out into the Silent Sea. When we arrived, it seemed Morganya had already gone ahead…to seek the Heart.”
His grip tightened. “She went alone?”
“With Daya. They took a boat from the Ice Port.” Linn looked away. “She needed me to keep Morganya’s army at bay.”
Ramson continued to watch their surroundings on all sides; he suddenly went very still. “Well, I think you’ve succeeded,” he replied. Something in his tone kept Linn silent as he turned them around to face the sea.
